Man accused of killing NZ woman discussed it on chatroom, say police

CANBERRA - Police allege that a Canberra man accused of brutally stabbing his New Zealand-born mother to death discussed killing his parents in an internet chat room.

Glen Malcolm Porritt, 22, is also said to have talked about suing his parents for child abuse, complaining they had ruined his life.

Police say Porritt's mother, Nanette "Sandy" Porritt, was found dead in the family home in the middle-class suburb of Chapman just before Christmas last year by her husband, Keith.

Mrs Porritt, who worked at the CSIRO as a laboratory assistant, was stabbed 57 times, suffering horrific injuries to her chest, neck and arms.

Glen Porritt disappeared and police issued a warrant for his arrest when he failed to appear at a coronial inquest.

He was detained by police on the Gold Coast for riding a bicycle without a helmet and extradited back to Canberra.

He has since been living in the family home where the murder took place with his father and two sisters.

Police told the inquest into Mrs Porritt's murder they believed they had evidence linking Porritt to his mother around the time of her death.

Porritt was said by police to be a "significant witness" in the case.

He was arrested by members of the Territory Investigation Group yesterday.

Porritt appeared in Canberra Magistrates Court this morning charged with murder.

Arresting officer Detective Senior Constable Brett Wood told the court Porritt should not be given bail, saying police held concerns for the safety of his sisters and father.

Both his sister Jenna and father cried out in support of Porritt, but were warned by Magistrate Michael Somes to remain quiet or risk being removed from court.

Mr Wood said Porritt had spoken to Jenna in an internet chatroom in April -- almost seven months before the murder -- about killing or suing his parents.

"They need to die. They have ruined my life," Porritt allegedly wrote.

"If it were not illegal I would stab them."

The inquest into Mrs Porritt's death heard claims of bizarre punishments being imposed on the Porritt children, including locking food in a "dungeon" and removing bedroom doors from their hinges.

Porritt also was said to have compiled a dossier accusing his parents of child abuse.

Defence counsel told the court that his father and sisters wanted Porritt to keep living with the family, saying he helped the girls with their schoolwork and assisted with cooking and cleaning.

It was also said that the two girls felt much safer with Porritt in the home in the wake of their mother's death.

Porritt stared ahead throughout the hearing, sitting only metres from his father and Jenna.

Mr Somes denied the defence's request for bail and remanded Porritt in custody until another directions hearing on November 3.

Mr Somes also said that the inquest into Mrs Porritt's death, which is still running, would now be put off or delayed.

- AAP